Company car question: companies often don't carry legal cover for drivers

I always thought my company car was insured fully comp but when I was injured recently in my company car on a visit to a client, I learned that I didn’t have any legal cover. Is this normal? PB, Colchester

The roadside lawyer writes:

MANY LARGE fleets do not carry legal expenses insurance as they subcontract their accident management to handle all their claims.  This does not mean that the insurance on the vehicle is in any way defective but that you do not have legal expenses insurance to protect against the risk of paying legal fees in connection with your injury claim.

You may have limited cover elsewhere such as on a house contents policy or even a credit card and if not there is always the no-win-no-fee option if you were definitely not to blame. Be careful to read the small print and make sure that no deduction will be made from any compensation you are awarded win or lose.

If liability is unclear or disputed you will find it more difficult to get legal representation without incurring up-front legal costs and may be requested to take an expensive After-the-Event legal policy (which provides cover after the accident has happened for your and the other driver's legal expenses) should you lose. Insurance policies taken out Before-the-Event are always much cheaper - Familyguard includes all-family protection for any family member in any car as driver or passenger anywhere in Europe for less than £3 a month - and any company car driver in your circumstances should consider it or similar cover.

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